Sign.



NITED STATES LAFAYETTE JOHNSON, OF ANDFRSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HORACE O. STILWELL, OF SAME PLACE.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,049, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed September 10, 1900. $erial No. 29,590. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

Movable or swinging signs attract more attention than stationary ones. A frequent change of signs is in many cases also desirable.

It is the object of my invention to produce a sign by which these advantages may be readily and inexpensively secured, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure l is a perspective view of a sign embodying my said invention in a preferredform; Fig. 2, a fragmentary view showing one of the gudgeons and immediately adja cent parts; Fig. 3, a detail sectional view of the same, and Fig. 4 a detail sectional view on the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2. g

I provide a suitable framework or support for this sign. That illustrated is of a form suitable for setting on a sidewalk and con- 0 sists of end pieces 1, having feet 2 and crossbars 3, by which the feet are connected together. In the upper ends of the end pieces 1 are bearings for the gudgeons which carry the sign.

' The sign 4: is a flat piece of board of suitable size and proportions according to the use to which it is to be put. To the edges of this sign I connect the gudgeons g, which rest in the bearings therefor in the end pieces 1.

These gudgeons are nearer one end than the other, so that (as the sign stands upright) a current of air will have a greater effect upon that portion to one side of said gudgeons or bearing than the other. In order, however,

to keep the sign upright, a weight member 6 is secured to the lower edge thereof, sufficiently heavy to keep the sign in upright position, with the larger portion extending above the gudgeons, as shown. In the construction shown I have made the gudgeons g and the weight 6 all in one structure or connected together by means of intermediate frame members 5, the whole forming a U- shaped part, on the inner edges of which I have formed grooves into which the sides and 5 5 bottom of the sign proper will enter. This is an exceedingly convenient and desirable construction, especially in cases where the user desires to employ a considerable number of signs formed to be interchangeable with each other. In such a case it is only necessary to slip out one of the signs from this structure and insert another in its place from time to time as the changes contemplated are desired to be made. It is, however, entirely feasible to have the gudgeons and the weight in separate parts and separately attachable to and detachable from the signs, as will be readily understood. When separate gudgeons are used, bolts or screws are used to connect them to the sign, as will be readily understood. In using the U-shaped structure shown set-screws 8 may be used when it is desired to secure the sign strongly in position.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a suitable frame provided with bearings, a sign having gud- 8o geons attached thereto nearer one side or end than the other and mountedin said bearings, and a weight attached to that edge of the sign which is nearest a line drawn through the gudgeons whereby the sign is maintained in upright position with the larger surface above the gudgeons,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a suitable framewbrk, a U-shaped structure comprising gudgeons and a weight and adapted to receive a 0 sign-board, and said sign-board fitted to bev held by said structure and proportioned so that the larger portion of its surface extends above the gudgeons, substantially as set forth. 5

3. The combination of a suitableframe, a

sign having pivotal bearings nearer one side or end than the other and mounted in said frame, and a weight attached to that edge of the sign Which is nearer the axial line of said pivotal bearings than the opposite edge, whereby the sign is maintained in upright position with the larger surface above the pivotal bearings, and thus subject to vibration under the effect of a current of air.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 31st day of August, A. D. 1900.

LAFAYETTE JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALSH. 

